Colorectal Cancer Statistics

Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common cancer in men and in women. For more information, visit Cancer Among Men and Cancer Among Women.

In 2009 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

• 136,717 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, including 70,223 men and 66,494 women.*†
• 51,848 people in the United States died from colorectal cancer, including 26,806 men and 25,042 women.*†

*Incidence counts cover approximately 90% of the U.S. population; death counts cover approximately 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution when comparing incidence and death counts.

†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2009 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2013. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs. (full site)